More boring tax questions

[ginko]

Hi guys, heres my story. I'm 20 and I live with my GF and sister, I support them both. I have cashed out about 25k throughout this year, and its spent. I have 15k in my poker account. Which is cheaper for me, filing as a pro, or just filing gambling winnings? If I file as a pro I have to pay state tax+federal tax+ social security. Is that going to be more or less than the 28% tax I'd have to pay if I reported it as gambling winnings.


Also, do I have to report tax on my money in the poker account? I think if you do that its very silly, because it will slow me down from moving up limits, I'm gonna pay tax's on it when I do cash it out anyways, and if I lose it all, I payed tax's on money that is no longer there.

My plan is to just pay tax's on what I have cashed out, and pay tax's on the rest when I cash them out. My budget is very tight so paying an extra 5k for tax will hurt me very very bad. Or can they throw me in jail for 20 years over 15k(5k in tax's)?


Any help/advice is greatly appreciated, thanks guys.